What's Laudato Si ?

What's Laudato Si ?

In 2015, Pope Francis released Laudato Si, a long letter to the worldwide Catholic Church and all people of good will on the importance of caring for our planet: "our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us."

Theme's of this letter

• Our Common Home Earth is in Crisis

• "This sister [the Earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her."
  

• Gospel of Creation

• "Living our vocation to be protec¬tors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience."
  

• Integral Ecology

• "We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature."
  

• Ecological Conversion

• "This conversion calls for a number of attitudes which together foster a spirit of generous care, full of tenderness…it entails gratitude…a recognition that the world is God’s loving gift and that we are called…to imitate his generosity in self-sacrifice and good works…it entails a loving awareness that we…are joined in a splendid universal communion."
  

• Call to Action

• A call to seek a new understanding of economy and progress. A call to dialogue among communities, states, nations, religions and science. A call to a new lifestyle and culture of care and concern for the common good. A call to hope.
  

Laudato Si Action Platform

Laudato Si Action Platform

Discerning a response to the ecological crisis is a profound act of care. At this kairos moment, action is needed. The Laudato Si’ Goals guide our actions. Their holistic approach supports a spiritual and cultural revolution as we strive for total sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology.

Goals of the Laudato Si Action Platform

• Response to the Cry of the Earth

• "The Response to the Cry of the Earth is a call to protect our common home for the wellbeing of all, as we equitably address the climate crisis . . ."
  

• Response to the Cry of the Poor

• "The Response to the Cry of the Poor is a call to promote eco-justice, aware that we are called to defend human life from conception to death . . ."
  

• Ecological Economics

• "Ecological Economics acknowledges that the economy is a sub-system of human society, which itself is embedded within the biosphere–our common home. Actions could include sustainable production and consumption, ethical investments, divestment from fossil fuels . . ."
  

• Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles

• "The Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles is grounded in the idea of sufficiency, and promoting sobriety in the use of resources and energy. . . ."
  

• Ecological Education

• "Ecological Education is about re-thinking and re-designing curricular and institutional reform in the spirit of integral ecology in order to foster ecological awareness and transformative action. . . ."
  

• Ecological Spirituality

• "Ecological Spirituality recovers a religious vision of God’s creation and encourages greater contact with the natural world. . ."
  

• Community Engagement and Participatory Action

• "Community Engagement and Participatory Action encourage the development of cultures and policies that protect our common home. . ."
  

Laudato Si Panel Discussion

Laudato Si Panel Discussion

Benjamin de Foy, Ph.D.

Dr. de Foy is an atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on the computer simulation of air pollution. After a PhD in engineering from Cambridge University he worked with Dr. Mario Molina at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a project to improve the air quality in Mexico City. He now researches air pollution in places ranging from East St. Louis to Tibet and teaches classes on climate change

Rev. Rodrick Burton

Rodrick Burton is the Senior Pastor of the historic New Northside Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. He received a Master of Educational Ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a Mentor and Visiting Instructor of Applied Theology at Covenant Theological Seminary, a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, Ecumenical Leadership Council, Jennings Clergy Coalition, Baptist Minister’s Union of St. Louis and Vicinity, Pastoral Fellowship of St. Louis, and on the Cabinet of the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.

Jamie Hasemeier & Pam Brown

Jamie and Pam are parishioners at local Catholic congregations working to make their community and place of worship align with Pope Francis' teaching in Laudato Si. Jamie attends Holy Redeemer in Webster Groves and helps organize an annual "green" or no waste fish fry during lent. Pam attends St. Cletus in St. Charles and sits on the social justice committee for the parish.

Grace Bradley

Grace Bradley is a student at St. Joseph's Academy - St. Louis. Currently, she is the President of St. Joe's environmental club: Earth Angels. Last school year, during her time as Vice President, Earth Angels placed 2nd in Missouri Gateway Green School's Quest. Earth Angel's mission is to bring awareness and action to environmental issues in both it's local high school community as well as the global stage.

Sister Cheryl Kemner

Sr. Cheryl is part of the leadership team for the Franciscans Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kirkwood. Their Franciscans for Earth initiative aims to develop and articulate a transformative vision and call others to live in right relationship with each other and the Earth.